Walter Lloyd Wachtel left this life to be with the Lord on Jan 8th, 2015. He faced death in the same way he had faced life; with humor, compassion, courage and dignity. Lloyd was born on September 20th, 1934 in Forest City Missouri to Beauford Bartja and Mildred Wachtel. At 6 weeks old he made the journey by train in the arms of his mother to Washtucna, Washington which he would call home for the next 20 years. While in Washtucna three siblings were added to the family: Melvin, Peggy and his baby sister Kathy. Melvin and Lloyd spent many hours and days fishing, playing sports and basically terrorizing the town with the other children. While Lloyd was in high school his father was stricken with tuberculosis and was committed to Edgecliff Sanitarium in Spokane. The family, like a lot of families in those days, already struggled to make ends meet. With the breadwinner gone it meant that the burden of taking care of the family fell upon young Lloyd. The town rallied around the young family and Lloyd was able to work, take care of the family and complete high school while lettering in three sports. Shortly after graduation Lloyd joined the Army where he served his country as a mechanic in post-War Korea. After the Army Lloyd returned to Washtucna and worked several jobs including the Union 76 bulk plant. In 1957 Lloyd went on a blind date with Yvonne, a farmer's daughter from the Wheatland southeast of Kahlotus. This was the beginning of a love story that would last the next 50 years. They married in 1958 and settled in Washtucna where she taught school and Lloyd continued to work at the bulk plant. In 1960 they traveled to The Dalles, Oregon to find and adopt their first son, a 3 year old Native American named Franklin Eugene (Gene). In 1962 they found their second son Mark Lloyd and adopted him straight out of the hospital in Spokane and moved his small family to Finley where Lloyd drove school bus and attended Columbia Basin College to earn his AA in automotive. Once he received his degree he moved his family to Walla Walla and worked as an automotive mechanic for two years, Lloyd then took his family to the Tri-Cities where he would go into business with the brother of Yvonne's late husband, Leland Davis. They would stay partners in business for over 50 years and through retirement together. Leland became another brother to Lloyd and was "Uncle" Leland to the two boys. During the "prime of life" years Lloyd had several great passions: auto racing, fishing, golfing, traveling and working with The Exchange Club of Richland. From 1969 until 1976 Lloyd raced stock cars around the Northwest. After retiring from racing you could pick just about any weekend between April and October and you had a good chance of finding Lloyd and Yvonne fishing or traveling the United States in their motorhome. Whether it was for trout in Baker Lake in Deer Park or small mouth and perch at the Potholes their favorite place to be was on the water, with each other fishing. After retirement Lloyd spent a lot of hours around the house in Kennewick fixing up the yard and, of course, fishing. Yvonne's health was often poor during this time, but this did not stop them from loading up the motorhome and taking off to camp and fish. This also gave them the opportunity to spend time with family and friends. Just stop by anytime, knock (or not) come in and have a cup of coffee and expect to get fed. They truly knew how to care for people and, make them feel welcome in their home. The number of people that Lloyd and Yvonne welcomed into their family and helped in times of trouble is beyond counting. Theirs was a generosity of spirit that is not common in this world and that spirit touched many lives. Yvonne passed on in 2009, shortly after their 50th wedding anniversary. Lloyd never really recovered from losing the love of his life. He moved to Spokane in 2010 to live in an assisted living retirement home and be close to his youngest son and his family. He enjoyed visits from all of his grandchildren, friends and family; watching the Mariners, NASCAR, and Gonzaga Basketball. He developed friendships with the residents and staff at the facility and his casual friendly manner endeared him to many as he advanced in age. This easy going manner continued to the end, even as he fought through his last days at the hospital and then at hospice he continued to joke with and have kind words for those who were taking care of him. He was a rare man and it is a mark of the type of person he was that so many will remember him fondly. Heaven is richer and earth is poorer from his passing. Funeral services will be held Saturday, January 17th, 2015, 1:00 p.m., at Mueller's Tri-Cities Funeral Home, 1401 S Union Street, Kennewick with viewing on Friday from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Memorial donations may be made in his name to Hospice of Spokane, PO Box 2215, Spokane, WA 99210.